Six years on and still true. Watched it first time nearly 5 years ago. There are some helpful reviews out there but this still holds up, at least regards brands and their more recent versions of the products tested here. Tbf, I recently watched some Bosch product information videos about their H-class extractors: I found them very helpful to make me think deeply about the whole process including removal and disposal of the bags and keeping the machine completely clean. I don't need H-class but I do need M-class and I want the best and I want to keep it that way
I'm looking for a shop vac and stumbled upon this video. Man oh man, you guys look to have done a thorough job and a half!! Knocked it out of the park so to speak! Kudos! I know this kind of research is time consuming (which probably explains why most review sites don't bother going into this much detail), so it's very refreshing to see someone go the extra mile in clarifying the absolute strengths and weaknesses of each shop vac. Because of this video along with the accompanying article, I have a much better understanding and direction as to which one I'm leaning towards. So I just want to sincerely thank you guys for going through these series of tests for us! Very much appreciated!! Keep up the excellent, unparalleled work!
This site always seems to give the most indepth reviews that the "common" person can understand without getting bogged down. Thanks, it's helped me narrow down my search for a replacement shop vac. Keep giving us these great reviews
Excellent comprehensive in-depth testing. What a service to give us all access to this information. I don't know how much time of effort was involved but it clearly was substantial. For those in the construction trades or even us hobby woodworkers this kind of review saves hours of research. Thank you.
Several of these so-called tool review channels you mentioned are simply reading the feature set highlights provided by the manufacturer. What a joke! I've purchased two tools based on your recommendations and both are phenomenal. You have my trust and loyalty. God bless you and your team!
All I an say is thank you for the massive amount of work you guys did for this review !! A really straightforward and apples to apples comparison. I hope you realize how helpful these types of reviews are to the average worker who wants and needs accurate information like this. Keep up the great reviews !!
Great review! As a mechanical engineer I appreciate the focused resting on the important aspects of the vacs. I have also been a die hard furniture designer and woodworker for over 35 years and I have gone through my share of vacs, several top brand models included. They would usually die after about 5 years of hard use even with routine care and feeding. I finally wised up and installed a cyclone separator about 11 years ago and am still on the same Fine vac, it looks like new inside and have never changed the filter! I used an Oneida separator and put the vac and separator on a cart. No expensive bags to buy and I’ll never have to buy another vac again as long as the motor keeps running.
D Tom Could you give us a few more details? What is the model number of your Oneida separator. Maybe a picture or two about how you connected the two together, or aren't they connected together?
@@christinehartman2459 do some research on cyclonic separators. The concept is fairly simple and straightforward in regards to how it works/what it does. They can be made pretty inexpensively with a 5 gallon bucket. The separator is connected in between the tool and the vacuum, and separates the larger particles into a different bucket, rather than sucking everything into the vacuum and bogging down the filters/bags inside. One thing to keep in mind though, is that they add more resistance to the vacuum, so it has to work harder to keep suction
I watched the whole video now. and I gave it a thumbs up. Without having read the article yet (I'll do that in a moment. At least I start, do not know how long it is) is the winner for me by far Makita. It "gained" 13 of its points in the last two judgements. Of course ergonomics are important and the quickness and easiness of filter changing, too. I must read the article how that has been judged and measured. Costs are important and the noise a machines produces you hear every moment that it is turned on.
I replaced a Ridged shop vac with a Festool CT36. I have been wondering if all of that cost really bought me a better vac. Your tests were well thought out and beautifully done and appeared to be unbiased (except for that little chuckle on the DeWalt). I'm now glad I took the plunge with the Festool. Many thanks for your work here.
hi ! , im struggling to decide between which vac dust ext. for mitre saws concrete sheet cutting with p,unge saws, and plastering sanders.. why ru so happy with the c t 36 ?? no regrets even with price etc ?? thanks ;) .... nic
I know this video is five years old, but I just bought the Bosch 14 gallon dust extractor. I haven't used it yet. But I've seen a lot of guys in my line of work using this dust extractor for grinding high spots in concrete and grinding off thinset when tearing out tile. I do flooring. The Bosch seem to come in around fourth place on all these tests. Right in the middle of all your graph charts. So which tells me it seems to be about average. I think it will do good for what I need it for. It won't be getting used every day. Maybe once a week or twice a month. I'm going to hook up a dust deputy to it as well, and see how that works. Thanks for the review!
@@ConcordCarpenter I have been using the vc-150-6 for 5 years we got 3 on the jobsite,and to help them stay in good condition since we fill a bag a day, we coupled them a year ago with Oneida cyclone bucket and now it's a bag every 1-2 week, because small particule fills bags ports, Wich saved considerably our budget but we did saw a decrease in performance with the 3 year running on bag only, but no decrease on the year with cyclone.
As a builder working in Cardiff in the UK i head over to this channel before making any major tool purchases, deep down we all know what tool is the best on the market and the price reflects that but i think the amount of time and effort you guys put into these reviews is amazing. it really helps to make the best decision on spending those hard earned ££$$ and it makes it alot easier for us. I've used your videos to purchase a track saw and now im looking for an extractor and i think i know where im going. Thanks for making these videos and PLEASE keep them coming, much respect from the UK.
I watch all of your vids cuz I trust the content. The way you try to be as objective and thorough with your head to head tests is the only way to get good info. I buy and use tools every day. I need/want/enjoy quality tools cuz I know that most times they will make me money. The info that I get from your vids helps me to make a well informed decision or to confirm a decision already made. Thanks for the effort, the excellent content and please....keep em coming. Scott Curtis Custom Carpentry Mt. Wolf, PA
On the market for a vacuum and although this may be a 5 years old video, it still takes the gold medal 🏅as far as reviews go! Thank you very much for this eye opening review. I think I'm gunning for makita.
JOB WELL DONE! In my opinion, you guys probably perform the most comprehensive testing of any non-manufacturing group! I wouldn't be surprised if the manufactures' Q&A departments aren't tuned in to your reviews. I look forward to each new review you do-Ken
I was about to pull the trigger on dewalt and your review makes me reconsider my choice. Thanks so much. You are always my top channel when I want to watch tools comparison.
You guys have the absolute best test review I’ve seen. Excellent. Cleared up all of my questions where other reviews barely scratched the surface. Well done men and I really appreciate your work!
Awesome review. After watching the review, I noticed that all these have one flaw in common. You have your dust collector and you also have your dust extractor like these for small tools. I bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner motor head which has a impeller that is separated from the motor. The motor has a separate assembly to get cooled. The impeller sucks the dust and within few inches exhausts it to a bag via 3 inch pipe. I removed the bag and connected it to my large shop three stage dust extractor with cyclonic action. This way I have one place for all the dust from the small and large tools, none of the filter expense, takes very little space and it’s in-line install setup for under 100 bucks. Awesome review, love watching all of your comprehensive and detail reviews. Thank you.
Very, very thorough. Nicely done. I *especially* appreciate the details you gave on your testing setups, and your extensive efforts to ensure the testing conditions were consistent across the board. Plenty of documentation, and references to actual ASTM standards. Awesome.
I use the festool ct36 with the planex drywall sander for my company and I love the way it performs. When I give bids to the customers I show the the festool System and a video on how much it helps to eliminate the dust. If you can eliminate the dust in a occupied house the customer it’s a win win. From experience the warranty on festool is amazing the turnaround time was very quick. Thanks for the video!
Man the Makita for that price is mega impressive, i'm a flooring guy and been using a good Ridgid shopvac with a good filter been looking into something more legit.
Awesome reviews here is why I subbed. Well spoken, energetic, thorough and I never see a hint of bias on any review. One thing I would have loved to have seen was the actual testing. Call me a nerd but you built that water column and damnit i wanted to see you testing with it.
Agreed! This is the first video I have seen from these guys, and they implement the scientific method so effectively that I can't believe these aren't a bunch of MIT grads. Brilliant work by these fellows which I will continue to follow out of respect for their process of eliminating bias from their review process!
Thank you. We need honest, thoughtful reviews that put the needs of the end user first. Probably the best tool comparison I have ever seen, heard or read. Unbiased and thoroughly thorough!! Again sincere appreciation for your efforts.
Wow! I've waiting for a thorough review of the top shop vacs for years. Nobody, including all the popular woodworking magazines, has ever done such a detailed review, including so many vacs. I purchased the Makita last year, even though I really wanted the Festool, which was over my budget, and was concerned because I was more money than I've ever spent on a vacuum. It looks like I was fortunate and made the right choice. Thank you and keep'm coming.
i needed this video glad i stumbled upon it. i own a dewalt that is three years old, dewalt stopped making bags for it so i am pretty much fkd out of that $400 investment and now need to buy replacement and refuse to let dewalt pull that bullshit again, i even called them and they were of zero help , so me and thousands of contractors get the pleasure of buying this tool again. i will check into the hilti, on a crazy side note i am a drywall contracror so you picked the right material for my interest. thank you so much for doing my homework for me. thank you
Another outstanding comparsion and analysis. 40 years in new high-end construction; last 18 in exclusively interior finish. Still have my Festool CT36 vac from 2001. Used with Powermatic contractor table saw, Dewalt comp'd miter, and numerous Festool sanders, jigsaws, planers. Festool has set the bar high but Hilti & Makita ARE impressive now. I always feel higher quality WITH greater reliability is a winning formula and justifies higher initial cost, for professionals. Thanks for being the best at what you do, Rob.
Three points: 1- The clean filter numbers are almost pointless. The machines will be run dirty 90% of the time. Outside of the top three the drop offs are so severe there functionality are compromised. 2- For every 3 decibels noise levels double. So the second place milwaukee is twice as loud as the makita. 3- Biggest disappointment has to be the Fein. They basically created this category and to test so poorly with a new model is unfortunate. Bonus- The tippy Makita can be a pain in the backside. Add 10/20 lbs of flat weights in the bottom of the canister (using fleece bags) to stabilize it. Not an option if lugging around the job but works if being used at a sanding/cutting station.
Great point about the 90% run dirty time. The run clean should not even be a factor. But its only a sentence later and I am changing that already. Here is where it can be important. If you are doing woodwork with large chips and you use a cyclone device to catch 99% of the stuff before it hits the bag then you can run for a year without ever needing to replace the bag. For those guys, the clean test should be in the test. But it should be weighted where it counts one-tenth of the dirty test in determining the overall score.
Bought a Festool for what seemed like crazy money a few years ago, but it's functioned well and with zero problems. If buying today I would definitely have Makita on my shortlist. Terrific and comprehensive review, as are all on this channel.
I have spent the last few hours in the effort to make an educated choice when choosing which to buy. I barley scratched the surface before I got frustrated, went to YT hoping to get info faster and.... found this Perfect video. Th
This has got to be the most complete and thoroughly conducted test I have ever seen a channel do on all of TH-cam. What an excellent video. Thank you so much for what you do. I think I will be going with the Makita for my home garage/shop. I have plans to build a Dust Deputy setup soon. Even though I'm a Dewalt fanboy I'm going to have to go with the Makita.
What a great video! Sure saved me hours of research. I’m a “Harriet homeowner” and I refurbish furniture. I do a lot of sanding. Very helpful to see all the criteria compared. This was great! Thank you, thank you!!
Another great review. Very scientific and detailed. You guys put so much time and effort into these. I love your pro perspective. I was a contractor for many years and left the trades in 95. I’m amazed at how far tool design has come in the last twenty five years. Well done sir.
Jason Taylor nilfisk must make the best then because that was the best vacuum out of the group if you ask me. The Hilti was twice as expensive, if Makita made there’s twice as expensive they could either offer you a second one for free or make the first one way better than that Hilti.
I would probably go for the Festerstool. I have 2 of the old Fein Turbo 2s and honestly never thought about another vacuum they have worked so good for me.
6 years and still the best H2H review on TH-cam. Kudos to you. I would love another iteration with current vacs. If you doing it I would suggest adding one home vac (like Thomas Cat & Dog or Miele Cat & Dog which seem to be the top their class) just for the sake of beginners or DYI-ers/ hobbyist so they have a point of reference (obviously it is a bit of comparing apples with oranges, but it would be very educational) on the performance side - e.g. sucking power.
Great review as always by you and the team, which I thank you for. Many thanks too for the insight and valuable information contained within the review. As I have said before in other comments, you guys are my go reviews for fair analysis of products available for guys like me for the home DIYer, as well as the markets you aim your reviews at, the professional end users. It always saddens me some what when the tools you review are availible in the USA but more often than not are not availible in the UK for anything up to a year after you get them. Sel-La-Vie. Keep up the great work and hi to you and your team from London UK.
Shocking to see the difference between Makita and Dewalt at the exact same price. I currently have a Festool CT26 and couldnt be happier, but in the future I will take a hard look at the Makita. As another poster said, will be interested to see how the cordless dust extractor segment takes shape
Firstly, can I say what a great presenter you are Robert. You are clear, enthusiastic and animated. All the things you need to hold an audience's attention. I loved the attention to detail to ensure a level playing field with your team's test methodology. I know that these comparisons are aimed at the professional but there is enough clear data to allow the hobbyist, (Like myself) to make an informed choice. As you say, it is up to us to make the choice based on our own requirements. The only other comparison that I would like to have seen is the running costs of the machines, i.e. filters etc.All-in-all a great head to head review.Thanks.
I think is my first comment on TH-cam since few years because I am impressed of what you have done and how you have done. One of the best reviews I ever seen. Would be nice to see more tools reviewed this way. Very good job!
Maybe I missed something. Did you test the filter efficiency? Meaning, how clean was the air leaving the machine? Especially the small particles? Thank you for a insightful review!
I own 2 Festool extractors. A midi and a ctl 26.In the UK health and safety are all over dust control and when adding in cost Festool comes in cheapest when you consider you can get reusable long life filter bags. The makita will hit you up for £20 for 5 filter bags were as I haven’t paid for a Festool filter bag since owning these extractors. Add into the fact that the hose and lead wrap up inside the units themselves and you have ball ache free storage! Good review as always!
Kiwi Bird mate it’s expensive up front but by far cheaper given the cost of filter bags over the life of the unit! Plus the new extractors are coming with blue tooth to work with battery tools.
zap brannigan, I bought the festool 48 thinking bigger was better, but when the bag gets over half full, it becomes too heavy to lift expecially stairs
$250 for the longlife filter bag. $50 for a five pack of disposable bags. No thanks. The price of their tools don't bother me, but the price of their accessories piss me off to no end.
+Ispike Just as important when choosing a vac is how it works with the rest of your tools. How flexible it is to use and the quality. Other brands match it for quality in terms of performance but not in terms of how it works in the real world with tools. Festool allows you have a tools startup system so when you for example start your router the vac system will start up as well. There are many reasons why festool is amazing for professionals. They are expensive but so were old Mercedes cars back in the day that would do 500,000 miles and still perform like a champ.
Two items I'd like to share. I've seen both the Hilti and the Makita at Home Depot's tool rental center. The HD employee behind the counter told me customers preferred the Makita over the Hilti. For a vacuum to be offered at a rental center is quite a testimony to these two products. Second, I bought the DeWalt because HD had an open box on clearance for $299. All of the units are fairly similar and are going to take lots of abuse, cost is the ultimate factor.
Wow! This is the first of your vids I’ve seen, and as a technical AEC guy, you have done your testing selections and performance quite well. The results are not just real world, but fair and credible, good job!
And not only that: It is also the very important information on which of those models to AVOID...My DeWalt failed soon to energize the vacumm when I start a tool connected to it's outlet, as the damn design is failure prone. I understand that it would be very difficult to include how the tool performs after some weeks of use, so they cannot inform us of every fault that the product is prone to develop. Mine went bad after only a couple of uses, and because they only provide a warranty of one year and I happened to use my unit not frequently, is came out of warranty. The vacuum still worked (as mediocre performing as the video tells), but its outlet became damaged after only two times I used it with a jigsaw that draws less than 5 amperes, so I did not damaged it by overloading it. The electronics repair technician that repaired my unit told me that the circuit is not properly protected against the inductive load voltaje spikes that ALL the electric tools produce. Bad design by DeWalt, and even worst customer support and nil understanding.
Alfredo Márquez Fredo, that is so true. I’m sorry to hear about that sucky experience - sadly we all seem to have them sooner or later. Then we’re stuck with a boat anchor. Car reviews are the ultimate example of this: All shiny and sexy in the reviews, and then months down the road (literally) the troubles appear and it’s a hot potato that no one will pick up. That’s why I poll my mechanics about their experience and what they’ve heard about specific cars. I sure like 1 or 2 year follow up reviews.
Love seeing the battle between tools to see just how well they perform, I am partial to Festool, and seeing the comparison "cements" my choice for dust extractors. Our CT 26 hasn't let us down yet!
We have a midi for small sanding and projects inside for projects, and keep our 26 on the trailer for all domino and large projects, other than changing bags, they take care of themselves and are a pleasure to use! Our customers can't say enough about our cleanliness and capturing the dust at the tool. You are right, can't kill them!
Yup, got two of the FesTool vacuums the medium guy and the big one. They say you can cut molding and trim on a white carpet with the FesTool saw. Not a good idea but it is pretty decent. I’m also sure Hilti will kick butt all day and probably win in a heads-up competition. But, the kits all work very well together with the FesTool and that can’t be said for much of the competition. Especially if you have a separator set up on you vacuum. I am surprised at the Makita and I’m definitely going out and buying one this weekend. I’m gonna modify a FesTool hose for it and stick that bad boy on my table saw, (I have trouble using the track saw from FesTool so I loaned that to one of my sub-trades to use.
What a thorough review! Well done. Some quite surprising results. Pricing has changed on most, if not all, of these vacs since this review. The most valuable component of your review was definitely the dirty filter testing and the fact that your testing was measured at the hose end. Thanks for your intense effort.
Now this is a really good comment! It just shows how much bullshit goes with the industry. You could pay 2x as much for the mafell and just get the exact same cleaner. Now. Where's the cheapest best not known name as the known brands. Let's save ourselves a few hundred quid,
Amazing video. I am currently using a Hilti vacuum 9 hours a day. I am grinding concrete walls. I agree 100% bags are essential. Noise is not a concern in a commercial building site. Thanks.
Let's be REAL Rob! The Makita is a top heavy tip-tastic POS, make sure when you're using it that you don't drag it behind you and run over anything larger than a framing nail (including an extension cord or even its own cord). Why wouldn't you guys not have added additional bonus points for Festool and Bosch for modular tool storage on vac? You and I both know you can't beat a Systainer or L-Boxx to get the tool you're going to hook up to the dust extractor to do your job. Also ideal is having the ability to store it efficiently, unless your viewers like using one hand for the tool one hand for the dust extractor or precariously balancing it on top??? In the REAL WORLD it's Bosch & Festool all day, everyday (unless you're running a huge core bit then it's Hilti all by itself)!
This is very true. The Makita is a stellar vac, but if it can't be rolled around by tugging on the cord, then then what's the point? This is still a great comparison video. Always great Rob, and the CC crew.
Kelly - we did. We marked the Makita the lower on ergonomics for that top-heavy design, and marked other vacs with modular storage like Festool, Fein, etc, the highest if they offered those systems. BTW - Makita is currently redesigning the size to mirror the other unit shapes - TBA soon
The other good point about the festool is how the hose is stored, it is superb as you still have access to the carrying handle. The hose is high quality and antistatic, plus you can get a hose and power cord integrated into one, very handy. An important feature is an air volume control. Festool shines here when used with their sanders. Sometimes you DON'T want max air as it sucks the sander down too much. The power cord is stout on the Hilti and Festool as is the storage for both. With the flat top and systainer integration along with the points above, this makes Festool the leader in dust extraction.
Only if you value every test equally. Any real-world user knows that some of the tests are far more important than others, and the variation within some tests is, itself, important. For example, a smaller drop in suction when dirty is more important than having higher suction when perfectly clean.
You've earned my subscription. Excellent methodology; you guys have done it like pros, pros from a lab but real working entrepreneurs. The content, the delivery and the pertinence have made this a dynamic video worth watching every single minute. Thanks for doing such a good job. Norm from Montreal, Canada.
Brilliant , I like this test very much and i think read somewhere that there is silica in mdf too. All the more reason for carpenters to have good extraction units.
Wow. The prices of these shop vacs are ALL out of my league. I am so impressed with your testing. That is great and anyone willing to shell out that kind of $$ for a shop vac should have this info. Wish you'd do one of these on budget shop vacs under $150
You guys are badass! I really appreciate all the reviews you guys do. It’s helped me plenty of times to better make a decision for myself on where and what I spend my hard earned money on. Thanks!
Cant believe such amazing content is free nowadays - outstanding. Although I currently use the Bosch GAS 35 and am highly satisfied, I would have probably gone for the Makita after this excellent and foreost scientifically transparent review. Just outstanding.
Robert, I just finished my review of best "TOOL REVIEWERS" and am pleased to inform you that you and your crew came in FIRST PLACE. There wasn't even a close 2nd. place finisher so I'm not going to bother you with the overall results. Thanks,,,,,,, Keep up the good work.
Opps, typo...... "was" should of been wasn't. I corrected it in edit. By the way, I realize this is an older review but it holds for your more recent work.
Five year old review and still the best and most informative video on shop vac's on you tube .
Six years on and still true. Watched it first time nearly 5 years ago. There are some helpful reviews out there but this still holds up, at least regards brands and their more recent versions of the products tested here. Tbf, I recently watched some Bosch product information videos about their H-class extractors: I found them very helpful to make me think deeply about the whole process including removal and disposal of the bags and keeping the machine completely clean. I don't need H-class but I do need M-class and I want the best and I want to keep it that way
This is one of your best reviews ever. I can't imagine the amount of time it took to produce. Please keep up the great work.
DaytonFamilyofFour thx - this one took a month to produce
（
Holy hell, a month? That is thorough
Thx
@@ConcordCarpenter And every minuted it was worth it!
This is one of the best tool reviews in the history of humankind
Tool Box is consistently the absolute best tool review channel.
I'm looking for a shop vac and stumbled upon this video. Man oh man, you guys look to have done a thorough job and a half!! Knocked it out of the park so to speak! Kudos! I know this kind of research is time consuming (which probably explains why most review sites don't bother going into this much detail), so it's very refreshing to see someone go the extra mile in clarifying the absolute strengths and weaknesses of each shop vac. Because of this video along with the accompanying article, I have a much better understanding and direction as to which one I'm leaning towards. So I just want to sincerely thank you guys for going through these series of tests for us! Very much appreciated!! Keep up the excellent, unparalleled work!
This site always seems to give the most indepth reviews that the "common" person can understand without getting bogged down. Thanks, it's helped me narrow down my search for a replacement shop vac.
Keep giving us these great reviews
Excellent comprehensive in-depth testing. What a service to give us all access to this information. I don't know how much time of effort was involved but it clearly was substantial. For those in the construction trades or even us hobby woodworkers this kind of review saves hours of research. Thank you.
Several of these so-called tool review channels you mentioned are simply reading the feature set highlights provided by the manufacturer. What a joke! I've purchased two tools based on your recommendations and both are phenomenal. You have my trust and loyalty. God bless you and your team!
From this review I invested in Festool,no regrets whatsoever.Thanks for posting.
this review and testing is hands down the best one on TH-cam for dust extractors
All I an say is thank you for the massive amount of work you guys did for this review !! A really straightforward and apples to apples comparison. I hope you realize how helpful these types of reviews are to the average worker who wants and needs accurate information like this. Keep up the great reviews !!
You are ABSOLUTELY Far and Away the BEST reviewer on TH-cam. Deeply grateful for the work you are your guys put into these reviews
Wow , now that’s a compliment- thanks!
Great review! As a mechanical engineer I appreciate the focused resting on the important aspects of the vacs. I have also been a die hard furniture designer and woodworker for over 35 years and I have gone through my share of vacs, several top brand models included. They would usually die after about 5 years of hard use even with routine care and feeding. I finally wised up and installed a cyclone separator about 11 years ago and am still on the same Fine vac, it looks like new inside and have never changed the filter! I used an Oneida separator and put the vac and separator on a cart. No expensive bags to buy and I’ll never have to buy another vac again as long as the motor keeps running.
D Tom
Could you give us a few more details? What is the model number of your Oneida separator. Maybe a picture or two about how you connected the two together, or aren't they connected together?
@@christinehartman2459 do some research on cyclonic separators. The concept is fairly simple and straightforward in regards to how it works/what it does. They can be made pretty inexpensively with a 5 gallon bucket.
The separator is connected in between the tool and the vacuum, and separates the larger particles into a different bucket, rather than sucking everything into the vacuum and bogging down the filters/bags inside. One thing to keep in mind though, is that they add more resistance to the vacuum, so it has to work harder to keep suction
2 year old video yet still more relevant than any current DIY review. Many thanks.
thanks for the comment Drew!
I watched the whole video now. and I gave it a thumbs up. Without having read the article yet (I'll do that in a moment. At least I start, do not know how long it is) is the winner for me
by far Makita. It "gained" 13 of its points in the last two judgements. Of course ergonomics are important and the quickness and easiness of filter changing, too.
I must read the article how that has been judged and measured.
Costs are important and the noise a machines produces you hear every moment that it is turned on.
Criminal that this doesn't have more likes, by far the most comprehensive test I've seen. Great video guys
Thx
35 years on the job , love your show , I don’t purchase tools without watching the show now Thank.
I replaced a Ridged shop vac with a Festool CT36. I have been wondering if all of that cost really bought me a better vac. Your tests were well thought out and beautifully done and appeared to be unbiased (except for that little chuckle on the DeWalt). I'm now glad I took the plunge with the Festool. Many thanks for your work here.
hi ! , im struggling to decide between which vac dust ext. for mitre saws concrete sheet cutting with p,unge saws, and plastering sanders.. why ru so happy with the c t 36 ?? no regrets even with price etc ?? thanks ;) .... nic
I know this video is five years old, but I just bought the Bosch 14 gallon dust extractor. I haven't used it yet. But I've seen a lot of guys in my line of work using this dust extractor for grinding high spots in concrete and grinding off thinset when tearing out tile. I do flooring. The Bosch seem to come in around fourth place on all these tests. Right in the middle of all your graph charts. So which tells me it seems to be about average. I think it will do good for what I need it for. It won't be getting used every day. Maybe once a week or twice a month. I'm going to hook up a dust deputy to it as well, and see how that works. Thanks for the review!
Curious how the new 3M extractor compares
4 years later, it would be great to see an updated review. The Makita, the top of the reasonably priced ones, isn't even available any more.
soon
@@ConcordCarpenterhow soon? my Makita just stopped working, it had a hard life though hahaha
@@ConcordCarpenter
I have been using the vc-150-6 for 5 years we got 3 on the jobsite,and to help them stay in good condition since we fill a bag a day, we coupled them a year ago with Oneida cyclone bucket and now it's a bag every 1-2 week, because small particule fills bags ports, Wich saved considerably our budget but we did saw a decrease in performance with the 3 year running on bag only, but no decrease on the year with cyclone.
OMG!
What an industry of a research committed into this!
You guys are too much.
You just earned a subs.
You are most appreciated.
One reason why we use and own (5) Festool dust extractors is the tool integration. Everything stacks and rolls. Time saved on the job site.
But it is still too expense bla bla bla bla.
I've got the Bosch and the L box's stack on top and click in place
@@sparx2391 I've got a box of rocks.
Duane Hurley great point!
bighands69 for You bla bla bla bla
As a builder working in Cardiff in the UK i head over to this channel before making any major tool purchases, deep down we all know what tool is the best on the market and the price reflects that but i think the amount of time and effort you guys put into these reviews is amazing. it really helps to make the best decision on spending those hard earned ££$$ and it makes it alot easier for us. I've used your videos to purchase a track saw and now im looking for an extractor and i think i know where im going. Thanks for making these videos and PLEASE keep them coming, much respect from the UK.
Most accurate tests ever. Love to see you add the Mirka dust extractor since I'm considering buying Mirka.
I owned the bosch vacuum and had to switch to the hilti. Big difference and very happy with it. I will soon get the new and updated hilti vacuum.
I watch all of your vids cuz I trust the content. The way you try to be as objective and thorough with your head to head tests is the only way to get good info.
I buy and use tools every day. I need/want/enjoy quality tools cuz I know that most times they will make me money. The info that I get from your vids helps me to make a well informed decision or to confirm a decision already made.
Thanks for the effort, the excellent content and please....keep em coming.
Scott
Curtis Custom Carpentry
Mt. Wolf, PA
Thx for the feedback!! Appreciate it
On the market for a vacuum and although this may be a 5 years old video, it still takes the gold medal 🏅as far as reviews go!
Thank you very much for this eye opening review.
I think I'm gunning for makita.
JOB WELL DONE! In my opinion, you guys probably perform the most comprehensive testing of any non-manufacturing group! I wouldn't be surprised if the manufactures' Q&A departments aren't tuned in to your reviews. I look forward to each new review you do-Ken
I was about to pull the trigger on dewalt and your review makes me reconsider my choice. Thanks so much. You are always my top channel when I want to watch tools comparison.
Really nice review by the way. By far the best tool channel.
Alpha1 thx
You guys have the absolute best test review I’ve seen. Excellent. Cleared up all of my questions where other reviews barely scratched the surface. Well done men and I really appreciate your work!
This test needs to be redone today with modern vacuums like Hilti VC 40 MX
Awesome review. After watching the review, I noticed that all these have one flaw in common. You have your dust collector and you also have your dust extractor like these for small tools. I bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner motor head which has a impeller that is separated from the motor. The motor has a separate assembly to get cooled. The impeller sucks the dust and within few inches exhausts it to a bag via 3 inch pipe. I removed the bag and connected it to my large shop three stage dust extractor with cyclonic action. This way I have one place for all the dust from the small and large tools, none of the filter expense, takes very little space and it’s in-line install setup for under 100 bucks. Awesome review, love watching all of your comprehensive and detail reviews. Thank you.
Very, very thorough. Nicely done.
I *especially* appreciate the details you gave on your testing setups, and your extensive efforts to ensure the testing conditions were consistent across the board.
Plenty of documentation, and references to actual ASTM standards. Awesome.
I use the festool ct36 with the planex drywall sander for my company and I love the way it performs. When I give bids to the customers I show the the festool System and a video on how much it helps to eliminate the dust. If you can eliminate the dust in a occupied house the customer it’s a win win.
From experience the warranty on festool is amazing the turnaround time was very quick.
Thanks for the video!
Man the Makita for that price is mega impressive, i'm a flooring guy and been using a good Ridgid shopvac with a good filter been looking into something more legit.
I've been buying Ridgid vacuums from the pawn shop for $40 for the past 5 years
Cant beat them
Aaron Kay do not buy a Festool
I'm a flooring contractor also, and use the festoon ct 36 E on every tool I got besides my big machine and gotta say its legit man
surprisingly professional and exact. This is very rare amongst so selfcalled testers. Thanks a lot for this.
Andreas Schlitzkus thanks
Awesome reviews here is why I subbed. Well spoken, energetic, thorough and I never see a hint of bias on any review. One thing I would have loved to have seen was the actual testing. Call me a nerd but you built that water column and damnit i wanted to see you testing with it.
Totally agreed!!! There should be a long version with extra actual testing footage. I could watch this for hours!
Agreed! This is the first video I have seen from these guys, and they implement the scientific method so effectively that I can't believe these aren't a bunch of MIT grads. Brilliant work by these fellows which I will continue to follow out of respect for their process of eliminating bias from their review process!
Thank you. We need honest, thoughtful reviews that put the needs of the end user first. Probably the best tool comparison I have ever seen, heard or read. Unbiased and thoroughly thorough!!
Again sincere appreciation for your efforts.
The Makita, Bosch, Fein, Milwaukee, and Hilti are all made by Nilfisk and are a slight twist of the Alto series. Nilfisk makes a top quality product!
Yay!!! And all of them use Ametec Lamb 3 stage motors hahahaha. Where is Pullman Holt for comparison?
And where is Nilfisk itself?
Great having guys like these preforming the most comprehensive and reliable tool reviews on the tube!
Dust, rule 1: THE MORE YOU BREATHE IN, THE LESS GETS IN YOUR EYES.
Hello. Iam abdul hameed from Iraq i want buy which one is best
😂
The more you talk, the more shit I smell
@@kashmoni1085 close your mouth, the smell of shit is now contained. You're welcome.
@@mochissin84m84 😂😂😂😂
Of all the tool reviews on youtube, YOURS are far and above the best, bar none! Very much appreciated, fellas.
Wow! I've waiting for a thorough review of the top shop vacs for years. Nobody, including all the popular woodworking magazines, has ever done such a detailed review, including so many vacs. I purchased the Makita last year, even though I really wanted the Festool, which was over my budget, and was concerned because I was more money than I've ever spent on a vacuum. It looks like I was fortunate and made the right choice. Thank you and keep'm coming.
i needed this video glad i stumbled upon it. i own a dewalt that is three years old, dewalt stopped making bags for it so i am pretty much fkd out of that $400 investment and now need to buy replacement and refuse to let dewalt pull that bullshit again, i even called them and they were of zero help , so me and thousands of contractors get the pleasure of buying this tool again. i will check into the hilti, on a crazy side note i am a drywall contracror so you picked the right material for my interest. thank you so much for doing my homework for me. thank you
BRO - YOU LITERALLY SAVED ME 20 HOURS RESEARCHING THIS.....
I feel like I owe you money ..... #LawOfReciprocity
You can pay me back by subscribing and hitting the notification bell
Another outstanding comparsion and analysis. 40 years in new high-end construction; last 18 in exclusively interior finish. Still have my Festool CT36 vac from 2001. Used with Powermatic contractor table saw, Dewalt comp'd miter, and numerous Festool sanders, jigsaws, planers. Festool has set the bar high but Hilti & Makita ARE impressive now.
I always feel higher quality WITH greater reliability is a winning formula and justifies higher initial cost, for professionals.
Thanks for being the best at what you do, Rob.
Three points: 1- The clean filter numbers are almost pointless. The machines will be run dirty 90% of the time. Outside of the top three the drop offs are so severe there functionality are compromised.
2- For every 3 decibels noise levels double. So the second place milwaukee is twice as loud as the makita.
3- Biggest disappointment has to be the Fein. They basically created this category and to test so poorly with a new model is unfortunate.
Bonus- The tippy Makita can be a pain in the backside. Add 10/20 lbs of flat weights in the bottom of the canister (using fleece bags) to stabilize it. Not an option if lugging around the job but works if being used at a sanding/cutting station.
matthew rud45 the clean filter test is a baseline - benchmark. Good news is Makita will be redesigning their body to a shorter more stable footprint
Great point about the 90% run dirty time. The run clean should not even be a factor. But its only a sentence later and I am changing that already. Here is where it can be important. If you are doing woodwork with large chips and you use a cyclone device to catch 99% of the stuff before it hits the bag then you can run for a year without ever needing to replace the bag. For those guys, the clean test should be in the test. But it should be weighted where it counts one-tenth of the dirty test in determining the overall score.
10 db is twice as loud.
> Outside of the top three the drop offs are so severe there functionality are compromised.
The Metabo dropped less than the Hilti. Also, "their".
RAREFORMDESIGNS decibels are logarithmic which means every 10 means 10x not 2x
Bought a Festool for what seemed like crazy money a few years ago, but it's functioned well and with zero problems. If buying today I would definitely have Makita on my shortlist. Terrific and comprehensive review, as are all on this channel.
Thanks for sharing
I like hot the festool and bosch integrates with their case system...
I have spent the last few hours in the effort to make an educated choice when choosing which to buy. I barley scratched the surface before I got frustrated, went to YT hoping to get info faster and.... found this Perfect video. Th
This has got to be the most complete and thoroughly conducted test I have ever seen a channel do on all of TH-cam. What an excellent video. Thank you so much for what you do. I think I will be going with the Makita for my home garage/shop. I have plans to build a Dust Deputy setup soon. Even though I'm a Dewalt fanboy I'm going to have to go with the Makita.
Best comparison test on vacuum that I found. This test was the biggest help on deciding what vacuum to buy.
10:05 you're welcome
not all heroes wear capes
Thank u!
Thank u!
What a great video! Sure saved me hours of research. I’m a “Harriet homeowner” and I refurbish furniture. I do a lot of sanding. Very helpful to see all the criteria compared. This was great! Thank you, thank you!!
Another great review. Very scientific and detailed. You guys put so much time and effort into these. I love your pro perspective. I was a contractor for many years and left the trades in 95. I’m amazed at how far tool design has come in the last twenty five years. Well done sir.
Thanks for taking the time in testing each of these dust extractors.
Our pleasure!
Great job guys that Makita is looking good
the Makita is a rebranded Nilfisk
Not that that is a problem just info
I’m genuinely surprised. Cheap as chips too. Gotta buy at least one for sure.
Jason Taylor nilfisk must make the best then because that was the best vacuum out of the group if you ask me. The Hilti was twice as expensive, if Makita made there’s twice as expensive they could either offer you a second one for free or make the first one way better than that Hilti.
Nilfisk-ALTO Attix 50 AS/E Wet & Dry Vacuum 302004234
Bought the Festool a year ago based on this review. Couldn't be happier.
I would probably go for the Festerstool. I have 2 of the old Fein Turbo 2s and honestly never thought about another vacuum they have worked so good for me.
One of the best reviews/testing of dust collectors I’ve seen. Thank guys!
I can feel my blood pressure going up this guy is so keyed up... But really good video.. thanks!
6 years and still the best H2H review on TH-cam. Kudos to you. I would love another iteration with current vacs. If you doing it I would suggest adding one home vac (like Thomas Cat & Dog or Miele Cat & Dog which seem to be the top their class) just for the sake of beginners or DYI-ers/ hobbyist so they have a point of reference (obviously it is a bit of comparing apples with oranges, but it would be very educational) on the performance side - e.g. sucking power.
Great review as always by you and the team, which I thank you for. Many thanks too for the insight and valuable information contained within the review. As I have said before in other comments, you guys are my go reviews for fair analysis of products available for guys like me for the home DIYer, as well as the markets you aim your reviews at, the professional end users. It always saddens me some what when the tools you review are availible in the USA but more often than not are not availible in the UK for anything up to a year after you get them. Sel-La-Vie. Keep up the great work and hi to you and your team from London UK.
Trev Haydon thx mate
You're a genuinely good man... we appreciate your time and care! Thank you brother
Great job, it is nice to see the quality of your test, as an engineer data and facts are important, your results had quality data.
These are by far the most comprehensive test’s I have seen ever , keep up the good work ..
Shocking to see the difference between Makita and Dewalt at the exact same price. I currently have a Festool CT26 and couldnt be happier, but in the future I will take a hard look at the Makita. As another poster said, will be interested to see how the cordless dust extractor segment takes shape
Firstly, can I say what a great presenter you are Robert. You are clear, enthusiastic and animated. All the things you need to hold an audience's attention. I loved the attention to detail to ensure a level playing field with your team's test methodology. I know that these comparisons are aimed at the professional but there is enough clear data to allow the hobbyist, (Like myself) to make an informed choice. As you say, it is up to us to make the choice based on our own requirements. The only other comparison that I would like to have seen is the running costs of the machines, i.e. filters etc.All-in-all a great head to head review.Thanks.
The work and effort you guys put into these videos is very appreciated. Thanks for doing this work.
I think is my first comment on TH-cam since few years because I am impressed of what you have done and how you have done. One of the best reviews I ever seen. Would be nice to see more tools reviewed this way.
Very good job!
Michal We plan on it Our next Test is on table-saws it’ll be out in a few months
Maybe I missed something. Did you test the filter efficiency? Meaning, how clean was the air leaving the machine? Especially the small particles?
Thank you for a insightful review!
Great job of comparing those units.... You did an excellent job of comparing the models...
Glad you like them!
Been watching a lot of your videos. You guys get right into the science aspect of these tools! Awesome job!!
I own the festool, it's a great bit of kit. Thanks for the review.
I own 2 Festool extractors. A midi and a ctl 26.In the UK health and safety are all over dust control and when adding in cost Festool comes in cheapest when you consider you can get reusable long life filter bags. The makita will hit you up for £20 for 5 filter bags were as I haven’t paid for a Festool filter bag since owning these extractors. Add into the fact that the hose and lead wrap up inside the units themselves and you have ball ache free storage! Good review as always!
zap brannigan love your comment, im kinda surprised festool came in 3rd. when my vac dies I'm going for the festool
Kiwi Bird mate it’s expensive up front but by far cheaper given the cost of filter bags over the life of the unit! Plus the new extractors are coming with blue tooth to work with battery tools.
zap brannigan, I bought the festool 48 thinking bigger was better, but when the bag gets over half full, it becomes too heavy to lift expecially stairs
$250 for the longlife filter bag. $50 for a five pack of disposable bags. No thanks. The price of their tools don't bother me, but the price of their accessories piss me off to no end.
+Ispike
Just as important when choosing a vac is how it works with the rest of your tools. How flexible it is to use and the quality.
Other brands match it for quality in terms of performance but not in terms of how it works in the real world with tools.
Festool allows you have a tools startup system so when you for example start your router the vac system will start up as well. There are many reasons why festool is amazing for professionals. They are expensive but so were old Mercedes cars back in the day that would do 500,000 miles and still perform like a champ.
Best vac review I've come across. We need more real world reviews like this.
Two items I'd like to share. I've seen both the Hilti and the Makita at Home Depot's tool rental center. The HD employee behind the counter told me customers preferred the Makita over the Hilti. For a vacuum to be offered at a rental center is quite a testimony to these two products. Second, I bought the DeWalt because HD had an open box on clearance for $299. All of the units are fairly similar and are going to take lots of abuse, cost is the ultimate factor.
My standard rule of thumb is if something is being used as a rental it's probably something you'd want to buy. Main reason I mostly buy Makita.
Hands down best tool reviews online or offline. Most pertinent information. You guys are pros at what you do.
Great video. Thanks for setting up and performing the test, because of this I bought the Makita vac. I'll let you know how it performs.
Scott Grimm well?
Wow! This is the first of your vids I’ve seen, and as a technical AEC guy, you have done your testing selections and performance quite well. The results are not just real world, but fair and credible, good job!
And not only that: It is also the very important information on which of those models to AVOID...My DeWalt failed soon to energize the vacumm when I start a tool connected to it's outlet, as the damn design is failure prone. I understand that it would be very difficult to include how the tool performs after some weeks of use, so they cannot inform us of every fault that the product is prone to develop. Mine went bad after only a couple of uses, and because they only provide a warranty of one year and I happened to use my unit not frequently, is came out of warranty. The vacuum still worked (as mediocre performing as the video tells), but its outlet became damaged after only two times I used it with a jigsaw that draws less than 5 amperes, so I did not damaged it by overloading it. The electronics repair technician that repaired my unit told me that the circuit is not properly protected against the inductive load voltaje spikes that ALL the electric tools produce. Bad design by DeWalt, and even worst customer support and nil understanding.
Alfredo Márquez Fredo, that is so true. I’m sorry to hear about that sucky experience - sadly we all seem to have them sooner or later. Then we’re stuck with a boat anchor.
Car reviews are the ultimate example of this: All shiny and sexy in the reviews, and then months down the road (literally) the troubles appear and it’s a hot potato that no one will pick up. That’s why I poll my mechanics about their experience and what they’ve heard about specific cars.
I sure like 1 or 2 year follow up reviews.
Love seeing the battle between tools to see just how well they perform, I am partial to Festool, and seeing the comparison "cements" my choice for dust extractors. Our CT 26 hasn't let us down yet!
Matthew Shull
Ive got 2 of them and a sys vac. Cant kill them and they hold suction.
We have a midi for small sanding and projects inside for projects, and keep our 26 on the trailer for all domino and large projects, other than changing bags, they take care of themselves and are a pleasure to use! Our customers can't say enough about our cleanliness and capturing the dust at the tool. You are right, can't kill them!
Yup, got two of the FesTool vacuums the medium guy and the big one. They say you can cut molding and trim on a white carpet with the FesTool saw. Not a good idea but it is pretty decent. I’m also sure Hilti will kick butt all day and probably win in a heads-up competition. But, the kits all work very well together with the FesTool and that can’t be said for much of the competition. Especially if you have a separator set up on you vacuum. I am surprised at the Makita and I’m definitely going out and buying one this weekend. I’m gonna modify a FesTool hose for it and stick that bad boy on my table saw, (I have trouble using the track saw from FesTool so I loaned that to one of my sub-trades to use.
What a thorough review! Well done. Some quite surprising results. Pricing has changed on most, if not all, of these vacs since this review. The most valuable component of your review was definitely the dirty filter testing and the fact that your testing was measured at the hose end. Thanks for your intense effort.
No..you tested: Starmix, Karcher, NIlfisk and Festool;)
Now this is a really good comment! It just shows how much bullshit goes with the industry. You could pay 2x as much for the mafell and just get the exact same cleaner. Now. Where's the cheapest best not known name as the known brands. Let's save ourselves a few hundred quid,
Nilfisk is shit. I can't believe people still buy that clown brand
Amazing video. I am currently using a Hilti vacuum 9 hours a day. I am grinding concrete walls. I agree 100% bags are essential. Noise is not a concern in a commercial building site.
Thanks.
Let's be REAL Rob! The Makita is a top heavy tip-tastic POS, make sure when you're using it that you don't drag it behind you and run over anything larger than a framing nail (including an extension cord or even its own cord). Why wouldn't you guys not have added additional bonus points for Festool and Bosch for modular tool storage on vac? You and I both know you can't beat a Systainer or L-Boxx to get the tool you're going to hook up to the dust extractor to do your job. Also ideal is having the ability to store it efficiently, unless your viewers like using one hand for the tool one hand for the dust extractor or precariously balancing it on top??? In the REAL WORLD it's Bosch & Festool all day, everyday (unless you're running a huge core bit then it's Hilti all by itself)!
This is very true. The Makita is a stellar vac, but if it can't be rolled around by tugging on the cord, then then what's the point? This is still a great comparison video. Always great Rob, and the CC crew.
Sounds like somebody has tipped a makita once or twice..
How do they end up putting something like that out is beyond me at this point.
Kelly - we did. We marked the Makita the lower on ergonomics for that top-heavy design, and marked other vacs with modular storage like Festool, Fein, etc, the highest if they offered those systems. BTW - Makita is currently redesigning the size to mirror the other unit shapes - TBA soon
The other good point about the festool is how the hose is stored, it is superb as you still have access to the carrying handle. The hose is high quality and antistatic, plus you can get a hose and power cord integrated into one, very handy. An important feature is an air volume control. Festool shines here when used with their sanders. Sometimes you DON'T want max air as it sucks the sander down too much. The power cord is stout on the Hilti and Festool as is the storage for both. With the flat top and systainer integration along with the points above, this makes Festool the leader in dust extraction.
I really wish you guys would do an update to this!
I second that! A lot of new options out there.
Tier 1: Hilti, Makita, Festool
Tier 2: Bosch, MIlwaukee
Tier 3: Metabo, Fein
Tier 4: DeWalt
Only if you value every test equally. Any real-world user knows that some of the tests are far more important than others, and the variation within some tests is, itself, important. For example, a smaller drop in suction when dirty is more important than having higher suction when perfectly clean.
Definitely going with the DeWalt.
RFC3514 great points! 👍🏻
DeWALT, BOSCH, metabo, FESTOOL, HILTI
1. Starmix
You've earned my subscription. Excellent methodology; you guys have done it like pros, pros from a lab but real working entrepreneurs. The content, the delivery and the pertinence have made this a dynamic video worth watching every single minute. Thanks for doing such a good job.
Norm from Montreal, Canada.
Much appreciated!
Brilliant , I like this test very much and i think read somewhere that there is silica in mdf too. All the more reason for carpenters to have good extraction units.
You guys are basically legit scientific reviewers. I’m subscribing, awesome job sir 👌
Welcome aboard!
Testing vacuums... Guess what?!? They all suck!😂 Sorry, had to. Bought a CT22 in 09 and still love it. Great review
Wow. The prices of these shop vacs are ALL out of my league. I am so impressed with your testing. That is great and anyone willing to shell out that kind of $$ for a shop vac should have this info. Wish you'd do one of these on budget shop vacs under $150
Thanks - please consider subscribing!!
Great head to head guys - very informative, and your results absolutely affect my purchasing decision. Thanks
Travel Hugs thx man
Finally the video I was looking for, TH-cam made me search the same phrase for 3 weeks before I actually found this. Unreal.
You guys are badass! I really appreciate all the reviews you guys do. It’s helped me plenty of times to better make a decision for myself on where and what I spend my hard earned money on. Thanks!
Cant believe such amazing content is free nowadays - outstanding. Although I currently use the Bosch GAS 35 and am highly satisfied, I would have probably gone for the Makita after this excellent and foreost scientifically transparent review. Just outstanding.
Very informative review rob good job to you and your guys! Loved the water jig by the way
Robert, I just finished my review of best "TOOL REVIEWERS" and am pleased to inform you that you and your crew came in FIRST PLACE. There wasn't even a close 2nd. place finisher so I'm not going to bother you with the overall results. Thanks,,,,,,, Keep up the good work.
Are you posting that somewhere?
Opps, typo...... "was" should of been wasn't. I corrected it in edit. By the way, I realize this is an older review but it holds for your more recent work.